Percussion apparatus for blood sampling

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for taking blood samples which involves strapping a blood collector tube to the part of the body from which the sample is to be taken. The blood collector tube has a resilient collapsible funnel which, when compressed, allows a lancet to puncture the dermis and epidermis. A striker member is placed on the end of the tube and a piston, normally held in a spring compressing position by a latch is released thus allowing the spring to impact on the base of the tube, compressing the funnel member and allowing the lancet to puncture the skin.

0 United States Patent 1 1 1111 3, Sanz et al. [4 June 26, 1973 [54]PERCUSSION APPARATUS FOR BLOOD 2,399,011 4/1946 Erikson 128/275 SAMPLING3,134,380 5/1964 Armad r 128/253 X 2,639,709 5/1953 Volgenau.... 128/276Inventors: Manuel C- Sanz, Grand y, 2,699,784 1/1955 Krayl 128/333Geneva; Georges Revillet, Onex, 3,604,424 9/1971 Windom 128/295 h f 't df f Zerla FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Asslgnee: F systems1,938,871 2/1970 Germany 128/DIG. 5 phlladelphlar 771,890 8/1934 France128/DIG. s [22] Filed: Sept. 3, 1971 Primary Examinerl(yle L Howell [211App! 18l423 Attorney-Gerry .l. Elman, Carl A, Castellan et al.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Sept. 4, 1970Switzerland 1. 13352/70 A apparatus for taking blood Samples whichinvolves strapping a blood collector tube to the part of the body [52]CL 128/DIG' 5 4 from which the sample is to be taken. The blood collec[51] Int Cl A6) 5/14 tor tube has a resilient collapsible funnel which,when 58] Fieid 2 R 2 G compressed, allows a lancet to puncture thedermis and [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,623,475 11/1971Sanz et a1 128/2 R 3,626,929 12/1971 Sanz et al 128/2 R 3,635,213 1/1972Lal-lay 128/2 R epidermis. A striker member is placed on the end of thetube and a piston, normally held in a spring compressing position by alatch is released thus allowing the spring to impact on the base of thetube, compressing the funnel member and allowing the lancet to puncturethe skin.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIEN IEO JUN 26 I975 SHEEI 1 0f 4 Priorityis hereby claimed on the basis of Swiss application, Ser. No. 13,352/70,filed Sept. 4, 1970.

This application relates to an apparatus and method for taking bloodsamples from the limbs of a patient. Copending U.S. Pat. Application'Ser. Nos. 843,096 and 843,016 now U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,623,475 and3,626,929, respectively both filed on 18 July 1969 and entitled Bloodcollector device" and Apparatus for obtaining a percutaneous and digitalblood sample, respectively describe, firstly a device for collecting apercutaneous digital blood sample, comprising a tubular body orreceptacle in the mouth of which is mounted a funnel member of resilientmaterial which communicates at the bottom thereof with the receptacleand inside which are provided a pair of lancets for incising the dermis,and secondly, a stationary apparatus for automatically taking a bloodsample which also uses the tubes just described.

Experience has shown that these two devices could only properly be usedfor taking blood samples from fingers of a certain size and that it waspractically impossible to use this apparatus on the fingers of youngchildren, in particular new-born babies. Due to the structural design ofthe stationary device, only digital blood-sample-taking operations canbe performed.

Furthermore, it has been found that it could at times be useful to beable to take a blood sample with a tube similar to that described in thespecification of copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475 without having toresort to the apparatus described in the specification of copending U.S.Pat. No. 3,626,929.

The instant invention lies in the provision of an apparatus whichenables this last requirement to be performed and which at the same timeenables the above enumerated drawbacks to be overcome. The instantapparatus is intended to perform exclusively with a device of the kinddescribed in the specification of copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623475. Itimparts an axial striking action of sufficient force to drive thelancets of the collector tube into both the epidermis and dermis of thepart of the body from which blood is to be taken, thereby making thenecessary incisions for a sample of the blood to issue. It is to benoted, however, that the instant apparatus, as opposed to the apparatusdescribed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,626,929, does notmassage the part of the body where the incisions are made to cause theblood to flow towards the incisions. Such a massaging has to beperformed by the operator, by hand or in any other suitable way.

The instant apparatus includes a blood collector tube of the typedescribed in copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475 and further includes astrap by which said blood collector tube is attached to, e.g., the footof an infant, and an impacting mechanism which receives the end of saidtube and employs a spring loaded piston to thrust the blood collectortube against the skin of the user, thereby causing the flexible funnelmember of the tube to collapse and allowing the tube lancets to puncturethe skin.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedblood sampling apparatus and method for taking blood samples.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved bloodsampling apparatus which may be strapped to a patient for the samplingoperation.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatuscomprising a blood collector tube with lancets which is strapped to apatient and an impacting device which receives the tube and imparts aforce to it to puncture the patients skin.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent whenreference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a blood collector device of thekind described in the specification of our U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,475;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the blood collector tube of FIG. 1 and itsrelationship to the securing strap;

FIG. 3 shows the blood collector tube strapped to a finger;

FIG. 4 shows the blood collector tube strapped to the heel of a footFIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are vertical sections of the blood collector tubeand the impacting member in various stages of its operation on a humanfoot.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the tube is designated generally as andcomprises a tubular receptacle 1 at the top end of which is secured afunnel member 2 of resilient material, e.g. plastic or rubber. Themember 2 has a lower, plug-like portion 2' with a passage 2A in which isinserted a conduit 3 extending into the tubular receptacle 1 andcommunicating with the cup-like portion 2" of the funnel member 2 at itstop end. At the base of the cup are an upstanding lancet 4, althoughmore than one lancet can be employed, and a pad 5 of absorbent material.The lancet is adapted to perform a puncture of the dermis and of theepidermis of the person from which a blood sample is to be taken and thepad serves to absorb the liquid that issues from the tissues when firstbeing cut. A removable cover 6 serves to seal off the device and can beremoved simply by pulling on tab portion 6. The tube may haveinformation pertaining to the patient magnetically encoded on amagnetizable band 3 on the circumference of tube 1. Vent passages suchas 4 are provided around the pe riphery of portion 2' to allow entrappedair to escape as the tube is being filled.

To take a blood sample with the device of FIG. 1, the latter is insertedinto the opening 7 of a strap 8 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) which has one endportion lined with bent over bristles 9 that are closely set andresistant, and its other end portion provided with a plurality of smallhook-like elements 10. The bristles 9 and elements 10 are similar toVelcro fasteners.

When the strap 8 is folded over around a finger as in FIG. 3, or even afoot as, e.g., the foot of a young child as in FIG. 4, the hooks 10engage with the bristles 9 and hold the strap sufficiently tightly onthe finger or the foot for the mouth of the funnel-like member 2 to bepressed against the finger or the foot.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a striker member 200 is adaptedto receive the lower portion of the described blood collector device andimpart a force thereto in the direction of arrow F (FIGS. 3 and 4) tocause an incision by lancet 4 of the epidermis and of the dermis of thebody portion against which the device is being applied. 1

The striker apparatus 200 comprises a generally tubular casing 11 havingan internal passage which is subdivided into three passages, 12, 13 and14 of decreasing diameter, starting with passage 12.

- Slidahly mounted in passages 12 and 13 is a piston 15 having adownwardly extending rod 16 which projects out of the casing through aplug 17 closing off portion 12. The striking end of piston 15 is formedwith a circumferential groove 15A and an axial recess 158.

In passage 12 there is mounted a centrally apertured disc 18 whichsurrounds the piston rod 16, and a coil spring 19 compressed between theplug 17 and the disc 18.

A coil spring 20 is housed in passage 13 and engages, at one end, thepiston 15 and, at its other end, a shoulder 13A that is formed betweenthe portions 13 and 14. The spring 20 is so designed that it exerts amuch smaller axial force than that of spring 19, but is sufficient tokeep piston 15 in the position shown in FIG. A.

The casing 11 is formed also with a radial and axially extending slot 21which communicates with the passage 13 and in which is pivotally mounteda lever 22 on a pivot pin 23 that is subject to the action of a coilspring 24 tending to urge the lever 22 in the direction of arrow F(FIGS. 5A and 5B).

The lever 22 acts as the control member of the apparatus to institutethe impacting action.

The method of operation commences with securing the bloodcollector tubeto the selected part of the body by means of its strap 8 whereby itsfunnel member is pressed against the surface of this part. The strikerapparatus 200 is put into place as shown in FIG. 5A by slipping thecasing 11 over the tubular receptacle 1, the latter occupying thepassage portion 14in the casing 11.

The rod 16 is then pulled outwards in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 58)against the action of the spring 19 until the circumferential groove Aof piston 15 comes to lie opposite a nose 22A on the end of lever 22.The lever 22 then moves in the direction of arrow F under the action ofthe spring 24 and the nose clicks into the grove 15A to lock the piston15 and the compressed spring 19 in a cocked position (FIG. 5B).

Pressure is then exerted on the top end of the lever 22 in the directionof arrow F to cause the latter to rock in a direction opposite to F andhence to cause the nose 22A to withdraw from the groove 15A of piston 15thereby releasing the latter which is then violently propelled upwards(FIG. 5C).

As is apparent from FIGS. 5A to SC, the energy of the spring 19 istransmitted to the piston 15 via the ap ertured disc 18 but the actionof this spring on the piston ceases when the disc 18 comes to bear onthe shoulder 12A between the passages 12 and 13.

After the disc 18 impacts on shoulder 12A the piston l5 and itsassociated rod 16 continue to move upwards by inertia and initiallycompress the weaker spring and then strike the tip of the tubularreceptacle 1 of the blood collector device. Upon being struck, thetubular receptacle 1 is propelled axially towards the patientss body,the cup-like portion of the funnel member 2 yields and collapses and thelancet 4 (FIG. 1) is driven into the epidermis and dermis therebyperforming the desired incision for taking a blood sample.

when the piston 15 has carried out its striking action and upon all ofits kinetic energy having passed to the tubular body I and to the spring20, the latter, through having been compressed, then forces the piston15 and its rod 15 back downwards until the piston comes into engagementwith the apertured disc 18 as shown in FIG. 5A.

Thus, the only force left acting on the collector device is'that due tothe resilient cup-like portion ofits funnel member 2 which then canreturn from its collapsed position to its normal rest position, therebyextracting the lancet 4 from the patient's skin.

Once the striker apparatus 200 has performed its striking action it isremoved from the collector device by slipping its casing 11 axiallyalong the tubular receptacle l.

To gather blood in the tubular receptacle 1 of the collector device, itsuffices to massage the incised portion of the body either manually forinstance, with a roller by successive motions directed towards theincision thereby causing blood to flow towards the latter and to issuetherefrom into the funnel member 2 of the device, whence it passes intothe tubular receptacle 1 through the conduit 3 (FIG. 1).

While only embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious changesand modifications can be made without'departing from the scope of theappended claims.

We claim: I

1. A device for collecting a percutaneous digital blood sample frominfants and the like comprising the combination of a tubular body closedat one end and open at the other end and adapted to collect the blood, afunnel member having a resilient funnel portion and a discharge end andengaged at said discharge end in the open end of said body and a mass ofabsorbent material located within said funnel portion, and at least oneincisor lancet in said funnel portion projecting through and beyond saidmass and located wholly within said funnel member, said funnel memberproviding an open passage from said funnel portion to the interior ofsaid tubular body to allow for blood flow, flexible strap meansconnected to said tubular body below said funnel member for securing thefunnel portion to a human body, and elongated striker means receivingthe closed end of said tubular body and coaxial therewith, said strikermeans including a biased striker member and a means to release saidmember to allow it to impart a longitudinal force to the closed end ofsaid tubular body to obtain a blood sample.

2. A device according to claim 1, and including a capillary tube formingan extension of said funnel member and said passage and extending to alocation adjacent to the closed end of the tubular body.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein one end of the capillary tubeis located within the discharge end of the funnel member, and isintegral with said lancet.

4. A device according to claim I and including a base plate supported ina lower part'of said funnel portion, said lancet being integral withsaid base plate.

5. A device according to claim 1, including means for allowing entrappedair to vent from said tubular body comprising a passage located in thedischarge end of termined position, one spring being weaker than theother which is compressed when said striker piston is withdrawn to allowthe velocity imparted by said compressed spring to said piston toovercome said weaker spring thus allowing said piston to impact theclosed end of said tubular body.

8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said tubular body has a magnetizablelayer on the body surface thereof.

1. A device for collecting a percutaneous digital blood sample frominfants and the like comprising the combination of a tubular body closedat one end and open at the other end and adapted to collect the blood, afunnel member having a resilient funnel portion and a discharge end andengaged at said discharge end in the open end of said body and a mass ofabsorbent material located within said funnel portion, and at least oneincisor lancet in said funnel portion projecting through and beyond saidmass and located wholly within said funnel member, said funnel memberproviding an open passage from said funnel portion to the interior ofsaid tubular body to allow for blood flow, flexible strap meansconnected to said tubular body below said funnel member for securing thefunnel portion to a human body, and elongated striker means receivingthe closed end of said tubular body and coaxial therewith, said strikermeans including a biased striker member and a means to release saidmember to allow it to impart a longitudinal force to the closed end ofsaid tubular body to obtain a blood sample.
 2. A device according toclaim 1, and including a capillary tube forming an extension of saidfunnel member and said passage and extending to a location adjacent tothe closed end of the tubular body.
 3. A device according to claim 2,wherein one end of the capillary tube is located within the dischargeend of the funnel member, and is integral with said lancet.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1 and including a base plate supported in a lowerpart of said funnel portion, said lancet being integral with said baseplate.
 5. A device according to claim 1, including means for allowingentrapped air to vent from said tubular body comprising a passagelocated in the discharge end of said funnel.
 6. A device according toclaim 1 where said striker means includes a tubular aperture receivingthe closed end of said tubular body, said striker member comprising astriker piston rod, spring means normally biasing said striker piston ina predetermined position, latch means for maintaining said piston in asecond position which compresses at least a portion of said springmeans, said latch means adapted to be released by a user to allow saidcompressed spring means to impart a velocity to said piston to effect animpact with the closed end of said tubular body to collapse said funnelportion and allow said lancet to penetrate into a human body.
 7. Adevice according to claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises twoopposed compression springs, said springs acting to maintain said pistonin said predetermined position, one spring being weaker than the otherwhich is compressed when said striker piston is withdrawn to allow thevelocity imparted by said compressed spring to said piston to overcomesaid weaker spring thus allowing said piston to impact the closed end ofsaid tubular body.
 8. A device as in claim 1 wherein said tubular bodyhas a magnetizable layer on the body surface thereof.